Robert Mühle Zeigerdatum/en
Bring on the Complications: the New Robert Mühle Zeigerdatum
Glashütte, September 2016
Mühle-Glashütte is now honouring the life and work of its founder with its new Robert Mühle special edition, which also breathes fresh life into a classic complication that is now a rare treasure: the date hand. As you would expect from a timepiece made in a genuine manufacturing workshop, the mechanism was personally designed by Mühle-Glashütte's expert watchmakers themselves. This exclusive characteristic is even more enhanced by the fact that this special edition watch is limited to a total of just 100 pieces.
After founding his family company in 1869, Robert Mühle played a significant role in establishing the excellent reputation of the German town of Glashütte as a top watchmaking location thanks to his high-precision measuring instruments. This year, he would have celebrated his 175th birthday. This is reason enough for Mühle-Glashütte to celebrate its namesake by launching a traditionally manufactured classic timepiece that reflects the values practised by Robert Mühle in the most stunning way possible. The new Robert Mühle Zeigerdatum not only boasts the combination of maximum precision and excellent readability that characterises every Mühle watch, but also stands out due to not one, but two additional functions in its mechanical movement, the so-called "complication". These functions are clear for all to see thanks to the watch's large transparent case back.
The "RMK 03" movement, which was designed by the manufacturer's very own watchmakers, forms the heart of the timepiece and is based on the Robert Mühle RMK 01 calibre with an up/down display that has already been given a new design. In the RMK 03, it welcomes an additional complication in the form of the date hand, which is located in the second third of the module plate. With the small-second display at the 6 o'clock position acting as the perfect finishing touch, the movement contains an impressive tally of 180 components with a total of 33 jewels and therefore features nearly 35 more components than the RMK 01.
In keeping with the spirit of Glashütte's classic watchmaking tradition, the new movement is additionally adorned with screwed gold chatons and a finely engraved balance cock.
When it comes to its fine regulation and cover plate, the calibre is yet again a prime example of outstanding craftsmanship because, as is only right for a top-quality Mühle watch, it contains the company's patented woodpecker neck regulation, which is particularly shockproof. In addition, the cover plate was designed as a three-fifth plate with a separate balance cock for the escape wheel.
This time measuring instrument is not only beautifully engineered on the inside, but also stunning on the outside. With their clear silver accents, its three totalisators shine out elegantly against the anthracite-coloured background of its face, while the hour numerals and indices, which are painstakingly applied manually, perfectly complement the watch's polished stainless steel hands. To top it off, the watch's 44-millimetre-wide case made of brushed and polished stainless steel and its crocodile leather strap with a stainless steel folding clasp provide a suitably glorious setting for the Zeigerdatum's exclusive complication. After first being used in a pocket watch back in 1793, this complication became somewhat of a thing of the past after the introduction of the date window. To put it simply, this complication is the ideal historic treasure for a timepiece like the R. Mühle & Sohn special edition, which above all represents a precise time measuring instrument that will take pride of place on every wrist.